On the Day of the CSAT, Symptomatic COVID-19 Test Takers Are Also Separated... Partitioned Desks Installed for All (Comprehensive)

Ministry of Education Announces COVID-19 Response Direction for University Admissions
Detailed Quarantine Measures Prepared to Prevent Mass Infection Among Examinees
Calls for University-Specific Quarantine Management Plans

The above photo is not related to the article. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] To minimize the risk of infection from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), examinees showing fever symptoms on the day of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) will take the exam in a separate isolated space.

The Ministry of Education announced on the 4th the 2021 university entrance exam management guidelines in response to COVID-19, after consultations with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation.

Park Baek-beom, Vice Minister of Education, stated, "We have established quarantine management guidelines for the CSAT and university-specific admissions to minimize the risk of infection among examinees during group assessments and to prevent the spread of mass infections in local communities in advance."

Approximately 480,000 examinees will take this year’s CSAT on December 3. Since the exam is held at 1,185 high schools nationwide, the risk of infection among examinees could lead to a spread of mass infections in local communities. The Ministry of Education also noted that the scale of applicants for university-specific written tests, interviews, and practical exams approaches 1.3 million, so it is necessary to manage the CSAT and university-specific evaluations separately.

For the CSAT, examinees are categorized into general examinees, self-quarantined individuals, and confirmed cases, with separate test locations arranged accordingly and detailed quarantine measures implemented at each test site. General examinees will take the exam at pre-notified test centers, but those with fever will be placed in separate exam rooms within the test site or in separate test centers after a secondary examination. The number of examinees per classroom in general exam rooms will be limited from the usual 28 to a maximum of 24, and partitions will be installed on all desks. Given the infection concerns, various measures such as reducing the number of examinees below the general exam room standard, installing partitions, and securing separate exam rooms are being considered.

Examinees confirmed positive will take the exam at hospitals or residential treatment centers where they are isolated, and self-quarantined examinees will be moved to separate test centers to take the exam. To finalize detailed action plans, the Ministry of Education will continue discussions with local education offices and quarantine authorities. Guidelines related to CSAT quarantine are expected to be completed by late September or early October.

Vice Minister Park said, "If a second wave occurs in October or November, the plan may change," adding, "We are consulting with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on what is called Plan B."

Universities must establish their own quarantine management measures. Based on the Ministry of Education’s guidance, they should assess face-to-face elements by evaluation type and prepare management plans. Measures such as securing distance between examinees in exam and waiting rooms and preparing separate exam rooms for symptomatic individuals should be taken, and on-campus parent waiting rooms should be operated as little as possible. Applications for changes to university entrance exam implementation plans are due by the 19th of this month, and the Ministry of Education has urged universities to notify examinees of any detailed method changes by the end of August if possible.